Archives for April 2015

These are some new products I’m just gaga over from the Spring/Summer 2015 NARS collection. Used Backstage at the Christopher Kane Spring/Summer 2015 runway show, the limited edition Violet Atom Illuminating Multiple is top of my list and now available. Run don’t walk to your nearest counter or check out NARS cosmetics.com

I miss working for the company and getting my samples to play with before a launch….. Ahhhh the good ol’days!

Cheers All – do something good for yourself today – be it a cup of tea, a quick walk, a piece of chocolate (hello lover…) or whatever – just remember you can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of YOU first!

I just had to share this post with you all – sleep deprivation is so prevalent in our digital day and age that setting up the right environment can be critical – I hope you like this and find it of some use. I know I sure did – love my folks at The Clean Program. It has really changed how I look at what I put in my body and how to be the best me I can! http://blog.cleanprogram.com/6-ways-to-a-perfect-sleep-environment/#comment-3020

Today, we want to share with you how to turn your bedroom into the perfect sleep environment.

With just a few simple and inexpensive items, you can create a sanctuary that truly restores your health and energy each and every day.

#1 Blackout curtains

Blackout curtains are an essential item for your perfect sleep environment. They are made of heavier material than normal curtains and block out more light. Once you start using them, you’ll immediately notice a deeper more tranquil sleeping experience.

If you have decorative curtains, hang your blackout curtains underneath them closest to the window. You can buy them online or find inexpensive blackout curtain material at most fabric or craft stores.

Tip: When using blackout curtains, it’s best to keep to a regular sleep schedule because you are more vulnerable to having your wakeup time drift forward.

#2 Sleep Mask

There’s nothing like a soft and comfortable sleep mask to help you drift off into dreamland. Even with blackout curtains, a sleep mask guarantees that no light enters the eye and allows your partner or spouse to read in bed while you get to sleep.

Tip: Your sleep mask is your most important sleep accessory when traveling where you are in less control of your sleep environment.

#3 Amber Lights

Sleep expert Dan Pardi tells us that we’re not getting enough light during the day and too much at night. When this happens, our sleep cycle and circadian rhythms become de-synchronized, potentially leading to all kinds of problems such as weight gain, reduce mental clarity and performance, cardiovascular disease, cancers, and metabolic impairment.

He recommends that we use amber lights in the evening and especially before bed in order to reduce the disruptive effects of white and blue light. This type of light found in normal light bulbs, computers, tablets, cell phones and televisions reduces the release of melatonin and keeps us stimulated and alert, truncating important hours of our sleep.

Amber lights simulate dusk while giving us enough light to read and relax without telling our brains that it is still daytime. Many of our clients with sleep issues have found amber lights to be a very useful sleep aid.

Tip: If you are using your computer, tablet, or phone in the evening, download f.lux to turn the white light from your device into amber. (There’s also a movie mode setting).

#4 White noise machine

In addition to light in the evenings, sound can be very disturbing to our sleep cycle. Few things are more annoying than being woken from a deep sleep by noise on the street or a neighbor. In these cases, a white noise machine can be a godsend. Similar to the sound of a fan, a white noise machine blocks out disturbing sounds coming from outside the home as well as inside such as TV or roommates chatting.

Tip: While traveling, try downloading simplynoise, a white noise app, to your phone and using it while you sleep.

They explain that “your body temperature decreases to initiate sleep, and a cooler temperature can actually help this.” Higher temperatures can lead to restlessness and “affect the quality of REM sleep.”

#6 Uncluttered bedroom

The results of the recent Bedroom Poll by the National Sleep Foundation found that more than 60% of people said a clean bedroom was an important factor in sleeping well.

An uncluttered and simple bedroom allows the mind to relax and let go of the stress and burdens of the day.

April Clean Sleep Challenge

Are you sleeping more? Getting to bed earlier? Share your sleep experiences on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Use the hashtag #cleansleepchallenge.

cleanteam The Author

As you know when I moved I cleared out tons of things from my closet – I actually have begun an almost monthly “edit” and its wonderful…… so now that the warm weather is upon us I am going through my things and switching closet from winter to spring I see I need to update – too many gray tee shirts. So I am excited to get some new pieces – I am starting with a few shoes, new spring bag and of course new makeup additions – later this month will do more clothes. I found this makeup brush set +Target by Sonia Kashuk ( Linda Mason artwork ) and fell head over heels. They are decent brushes for the price and perfect for travel. The mascara’s both are fantastic – the +Benefit Cosmetics “they’re real” is my new favorite and you always need a little spray tan and this St. Tropez spray tan is “KING”. In desperate need of mani – pedi and will be going with a pale color on nails – not sure pedi color yet. Hope you find these inspiring – let me know your new spring additions – I wanna see what your loving right now!

Wanted to share this – in keeping with our healthier lifestyle I really have tried to tweak some recipes – all while keeping the flavor…. otherwise what is the point? Try this and let me know your thoughts – tonight for a side dish – and later for a snack – I’m making a spicy roasted chickpea dish! It’s so simple – you probably have most ingredients in your pantry right now!

Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 25 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Yield: 2 CUPS

Ingredients

2 cups cooked chickpeas, or 1 (15 oz) can

1½ teaspoons olive oil

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

¾ teaspoon chili powder

¼ teaspoon paprika

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

a dash of cayenne pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Pat the chickpeas dry between two paper towels and be sure to remove any loose skins.

Pour the chickpeas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat and mist with olive oil. Use your hands or a spoon to toss the chickpeas. In a small bowl, combine the seasonings and whisk to combine. Sprinkle the mixture onto the chickpeas and toss to coat. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring the chickpeas at the 15 minute mark.

Notes

You can soak and cookthese organic chickpeas for this recipe – or like myself just use the one’s from the can ( I prefer #Goya beans – just find the flavor better to me) any will do.

Try this out gang & let me know your thoughts and what kind of beans you make – they say 1 serving of beans a day is key for a healthy life – can be any kind – just make sure your getting them in!

April 13, 2015

Hey There In Blogger Land,

I’m using my Dragon Dictate to write my blog today! It is my first post using it and it’s great. You speak & it recognizes your voice and speech patterns. It took me only 10 minutes to download & set it up. Than “Viola” here I am.! It’s not without a few little quirks – like you have to say “period” at the end of your sentence, new paragraph and so words are not capitalized but I think it learns your voice patterns – tempo as you go along. It’s not perfect yet but it’s pretty darn cool and I think it will get better over time. It is forcing me to speak a little bit more precisely and slowly so that’s not a bad thing.

Pretty cool addition to my gadgets

Any who – to follow up to my last post – here is the exfoliation tip I mentioned that you can do for pennies! You will dampen your face with warm water (I like to do this in the bath before bed – that way not so messy ) & mix some sugar in the raw with your liquid face soap. I of course use my trusted Clinique. You don’t want to scrub terribly hard but it will dissolve and warm-up with the water & soap. This so flipping fantastic – I even go right around my eyes. Than follow with your toner and moisturizer. Also, because it’s natural there’s no real harmful chemical reaction – however if you are extremely sensitive try it on your décolletage and the backs of your hands just to make sure it doesn’t bother your skin. I will tell you – you will love me and your face will be smooth and soft as a baby’s bottom. Even better all your skin care products will penetrate deeper and be more effective. Try it out and be sure to comment & let me know.

Next addressing the property I mentioned last week – we just got back from the beach this weekend. We wanted to really took a look at the bay side property. It’s so pretty & peaceful we really love it. However the Airstream idea is out…..too much of a project for me to personally undertake so were looking at Flagstaff and Rockwood RV homes! Mike is still in shock that I like them and came up with the idea. Listen people I have been shocked – they are so nice, wide screen TVs, a fireplace, 2 La-Z-Boy chairs, real dining room table – kitchen island and Serta bed! I have been so pleasantly surprised.

The plan now is to get one of those use that for two years have the ability to take it on trips maybe with the kids & go fishing at a different locations or camping on the beach and then…….. To build and design my ECO friendly cargo type home. I have had this idea and plans saved in my inspiration book for years. There are so many types of energy efficient streamlined homes but these are a few I really like and since we will have the trailer there is no rush to build and I can really take my time to design what I want and how I want it!!!! YEAH!!!! Look at this example from Idea Box…

Something like this with electric -plumbing -cabinets – stainless steel appliances etc. starts at a reasonable price – under 100K. Then of course you can ad on. I like to have a large deck and one on the roof to for sunbathing as well and looking at the water. A outdoor fire pit – and off to the side of the master a glass front enclosed bath/soaking tub to watch the sun come up or go down (not sure) and see the starts while I have my hot baths…… how fantastic will that be…. maybe a bath like this facing the water.

so that’s the plan right now – we will see if they accept our offer on the lot but my mind is already spinning with cool ideas.

I have to run everyone and scout out a new BBQ restaurant location, prepare for a meeting & also work on my photography. I have a photo shoot scheduled at the restaurant later this week – gonna take a video as well. I think of the bartender making a cocktail. I’ll be using my GoPro – maybe a shot in slow motion with the drink pouring over the sides…. we will see – so be sure to check out https://www.facebook.com/TRRestaurant?ref=hl and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Hog-BBQ-Bar/145092038850130?ref=hl to see all my updates – we are on twitter, instagram and Youtube as well. All the usual suspects – I’m feeling grateful and happy this is all pretty fun! I love to use my creativity in different ways – so stay tuned.

Being a creative type sometimes has its drawbacks – so many things in this little head – its crazy and trying to harness and stay focused at times can be a real challenge. I do suffer from ADD but I’ve been this way my whole life so really its the norm. Compound that with Spring and my habit for “new beginnings” it’s amplified for sure – I am like a pinball! I have the back patio project, social media campaigns for the restaurants & for myself, planning a beach/fishing trip, booking my first time to Italy, (packing challenge/dilemma)

gearing up to do my “pure barre” challenge and possibly buying a property down at the beach!!!!

You see Mike bought a boat with his buddy Joe & wants to get the lot bay side which is right next to him.

I was not too keen on the idea at first. However I love to fish love – love the water – love the beach and love my husband! Quite frankly I don’t want us to have separate lives! Not if we want to stay married (he would go fishing down there invite me but I felt I did not have my spot there) Also, I don’t like to impose and stay with his buddy all the time. If I’m honest I also need my privacy esp. in the morning. I want create something that is me down there – if that’s the direction we are going. So I shocked my husband I suggested getting an Airstream! We looked at new ones and boy they are prettypricey! “no thank you”

You I have too many projects yet to finish at home and we want to travel etc… so this is not where I wanna drop that kind of money. I being the creative gal that I am came up with the wonderful idea of gutting and remodeling a vintage Airstream found on EBay! see above ( he was like who are you and what have you done with Lori???)

It’s gonna be so flipping cool and I’ll take you guys with me as it progresses! We are gonna go this weekend and check out the lot & the town more closely. Make sure to follow on Instagram – Facebook – Twitter and YouTube. (We have not bought ours yet – but looking at this one!)

Later today I will post a video/pictures of my new favorite way to wash and exfoliate my face for pennies! You will LOVE the results & me!

HUGS

April 1, 2015

Gotta Try These Juice Recipes

Fennel Juice

1–2 fennel bulbs1 orange, peeled1/2 lemon, peeled2 sprigs of mint

Wash all ingredients thoroughly. Cut the fennel bulbs and stalks, add the orange and lemon, then blend! Add mint to the juice and allow to soak for a few hours in the refrigerator. Strain before drinking.

Wash ingredients thoroughly. Juice the oranges first, then add the lemon basil and allow the infusion to soak in the refrigerator for a few hours. Strain, then pour roughly 10–12 ounces of the infused blood orange juice in a glass, and top with the soda water. Garnish with chervil.

Welcome to “BLANK SLATE”. My name is Lori Tauraso, I’m a 40 something mother of 4, empty nester . So I find myself trying something new. While raising my family, I’ve been a make-up artist and worked for NARS, Elizabeth Arden & Clinique. I have done freelance work, dabbled in Interior Design and lent my touch to some local restaurants, offices, fundraising events & parties! I love to express my creativity in many ways. You name it, I’ve done it. Fashion, makeup, travel & entertaining have always been a love closely bordering on obsession for me!!!!